Ravi Kumar Chittoria Senior Professor and Associate Dean (Academic), Head of IT Wing and Telemedicine, Department of Plastic Surgery and Telemedicine, JIPMER, Puducherry, India., India
Kanav Gupta Senior Resident, Department of Plastic Surgery, JIPMER, Puducherry, India, India
Nagarjun S. Ghatti Observer, Department of Plastic Surgery, JIPMER, Puducherry, India, India
Address for correspondence: Ravi Kumar Chittoria, Senior Professor and Associate Dean (Academic), Head of IT Wing and Telemedicine, Department of Plastic Surgery and Telemedicine, JIPMER, Puducherry, India., India E-mail: drchittoria@yahoo.com
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Gupta K, Chittoria RK, Ghatti NS. Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma in Scar Management: A Literature Review. New Indian J Surg. 2025;17(1):11-16.
Timeline
Received : September 29, 2025
Accepted : November 01, 2025
Published : March 30, 2026
Abstract
Autologous platelet-based concentrates, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), are increasingly popular in medical, surgical, and aesthetic treatments due to their high concentration of growth factors that promote tissue repair.
PRP can improve atrophic acne scars when combined with ablative fractional CO2 laser, reducing side effects like oedema and erythema. It enhances wound healing and early scar quality. It also improves texture, color, and contour in traumatic scars when used with fat grafting and non-ablative fractional laser.
References
1. Pierce GF, Mustoe TA, Altrock BW, et al. Role of platelet derived growth factor in wound healing. J Cell Biochem. 1991;45(4):319–326.
2. Pierce GF, Mustoe TA, Lingelbach J, et al. Platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta enhance tissue repair activities by unique mechanisms. J Cell Biol. 1989;109(1):429–440.
3. Lynch MD, Bashir S. Applications of platelet-rich plasma in dermatology: A critical appraisal of the literature. J Dermatolog Treat. 2016;27(3):285–289.
4. Lubkowska A, Dolegowska B, Banfi G. Growth factor content in PRP and their applicability in medicine. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2012;26(2 Suppl 1):3S–22S.
5. Marx RE. Platelet-rich plasma: Evidence to support its use. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2004;62(4):489–496.
6. Foster TE, Puskas BL, Mandelbaum BR, et al. Platelet-rich plasma: from basic science to clinical applications. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37(11):2259–2272.
7. Leo MS, Kumar AS, Kirit R, et al. Systematic review of the use of platelet-rich plasma in aesthetic dermatology. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015;14(4):315–323.
8. Nofal E, Helmy A, Nofal A, et al. Platelet-rich plasma versus CROSS technique with 100% trichloroacetic acid versus combined skin needling and platelet rich plasma in the treatment of atrophic acne scars: a comparative study. Dermatol Surg. 2014;40(8):864–873.
9. Marx R. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): what is PRP and what is not PRP? Implant Dent. 2001;10(4):225–228.
10. Nagata M, Messora M, Flávia A, et al. Effectiveness of two methods for preparation of autologous platelet-rich plasma: an experimental study in rabbits. Eur J Dent. 2009;4(4):395–402.
11. Kumaran MS. Platelet-rich plasma in dermatology: boon or a bane? Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2014;80(1):5–14.
12. Dohan Ehrenfest DM, Andia I, Zumstein MA, et al. Classification of platelet concentrates (Platelet-Rich Plasma PRP, Platelet-Rich Fibrin-PRF) for topical and infiltrative use in orthopedic and sports medicine: current consensus, clinical implications and perspectives. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2014;4(1):3–9.
13. Hesseler MJ, Shyam N. Platelet-rich plasma and its utility in the treatment of acne scars: A systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(6):1730-1745.
14. Mosca MJ, Rodeo SA. Platelet-rich plasma for muscle injuries: game over or time out? Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015;8(2):145–153.
15. Stathakis V, Kilkenny M, Marks R. Descriptive epidemiology of acne vulgaris in the community. Australas J Dermatol. 1997;38(3):115-123.
16. Farghali HA, AbdElKader NA, Khattab MS, et al. Evaluation of subcutaneous infiltration of autologous platelet-rich plasma on skin-wound healing in dogs. Biosci Rep. 2017;37(2):BSR20160503.
17. Oz M, Cetinkaya N, Bas S, et al. A randomized controlled experimental study of the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid for the prevention of adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn model. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;294(3):533–540.
18. Nita AC, Orzan OA, Filipescu M, et al. Fat graft, laser CO2 and platelet-rich-plasma synergy in scars treatment. J Med Life. 2013;6(4):430–433.
19. Ogawa R. The most current algorithms for the treatment and prevention of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010;125(2):557–568.
20. Jones ME, Hardy C, Ridgway J. Keloid management: A retrospective case review on a new approach using surgical excision, platelet-rich plasma, and in-office superficial photon X-ray radiation therapy. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2016;29(7):303–307.
21. Jones ME, McLane J, Adenegan R, et al. Advancing keloid treatment: A novel multimodal approach to ear keloids. Dermatol Surg. 2017;43(9):1164–1169.
22. Regen Lab SA. Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma for Chronic Wounds [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2018 Feb 7].
23. Tehranian A, Esfehani-Mehr B, Pirjani R, et al. Application of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on wound healing after Caesarean section in high-risk patients. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016;18(7):e34449.
24. Azzena B, Mazzoleni F, Abatangelo G, et al. Autologous platelet-rich plasma as an adipocyte in vivo delivery system: case report. Aesthet Plast Surg. 2008;32(1):155–158.
25. Cervelli V, Nicoli F, Spallone D, et al. Treatment of traumatic scars using fat grafts mixed with platelet-rich plasma, and resurfacing of skin with the 1540 nm nonablative laser. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2012;37(1):55–61.
26. Gentile P, De Angelis B, Pasin M, et al. Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction cells and platelet-rich plasma: basic and clinical evaluation for cell-based therapies in patients with scars on the face. J Craniofac Surg. 2014;25(1):267–272.
27. Majani U, Majani A. Correction of scars by autologous fat graft and platelet rich plasma (PRP). Acta Med Mediterr. 2012;28:99–100.
28. Martinez-Zapata MJ, Martí-Carvajal AJ, Solà I, et al. Autologous platelet-rich plasma for treating chronic wounds. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;5(5):CD006899.
Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
Whether all authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
About this article
Cite this article
Gupta K, Chittoria RK, Ghatti NS. Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma in Scar Management: A Literature Review. New Indian J Surg. 2025;17(1):11-16.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.